Mennonite Style Chicken Broth
Delight in the comforting simplicity of Mennonite Style Chicken Broth, a traditional recipe that transforms humble ingredients into a soul-warming classic. Crafted with a whole chicken, fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, and onion, and aromatic herbs such as parsley and thyme, this slow-simmered broth is rich, flavorful, and packed with homemade goodness. Perfect as a base for soups, stews, or simply sipped on its own, this broth shines with its wholesome, preservative-free approach. With an easy prep process and a few hours of gentle cooking, this recipe yields a nourishing, golden elixir that stores beautifully for days or even months. Whether you're chasing comfort or culinary inspiration, this hearty chicken broth brings old-world charm and nutrition to your kitchen.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 approximately 3-4 lbs Whole chicken
- 3 medium Carrots
- 3 Celery stalks
- 1 large Onion
- 4 Garlic cloves
- 2 Bay leaves
- 1 small handful Fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black peppercorns
- 12 cups Cold water
Instructions
Rinse the whole chicken under cold water and remove any giblets from the cavity. Pat dry with paper towels.
Peel and roughly chop the carrots and onion, and cut the celery stalks into large chunks. Peel and slightly crush the garlic cloves.
Place the chicken in a large stockpot and add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bay leaves, parsley, dried thyme, salt, and black peppercorns.
Pour in 12 cups of cold water or enough to fully submerge the chicken and vegetables. Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat.
Once the broth reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 2.5 to 3 hours, occasionally skimming off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface.
After simmering, carefully remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside to cool. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into another large pot or bowl, discarding the solids.
Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning with more salt, if needed. Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight to allow the fat to rise to the surface.
Once chilled, skim off any solidified fat from the top of the broth. Reheat as needed, or store in airtight containers for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
419 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 12.5 g | 16% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.4 g | 17% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 102 mg | 34% | |
| Sodium | 5189 mg | 226% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 50.8 g | 18% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 12.3 g | 44% | |
| Total Sugars | 21.2 g | ||
| Protein | 32.9 g | 66% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 357 mg | 27% | |
| Iron | 4.2 mg | 23% | |
| Potassium | 1806 mg | 38% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
